New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-02

SlatIstCS OIL tue year WoThr pItpdicu Wy
city officials and published elsewhere in this
paper, indicate profitable activity in some of
the municipal departments for 1856. glance
at :the figures shows where credit should be
given, and what offices are to be commended.
But the sad fact still remains despite here and
there faithful servant, that New York is one
of the most extensively and at the same time
one of the worst governed cities in the world.
And the government is Democratic.
The present Board of Aldermen will cease to
exist Tomorrow, brit its ruling passion is strong
in death. One of its expiring acts was 10 give
away another city franchise despite tie Mayors
veto. Unfortunately, the incoming Board does
not promise to do much better, Judging from
its unofficial action up to the present time. In
caucus last week it resolved to elect Pat
Diver to fill Jaehne's.place as vice president.
Air. Diver is from the same ward that has the
honor of claiming Mr. Fatty" Walsh as its
own, and while he is opposed to Walsh's fac
Eion, he is of the same choice lot of Democratic
politicians.
Most well-tO-do people IN this city probably
have only known in a vague way that measles
have been epidemic here of late. Yet the truth
Is that the disease IN an unusually severe form
has prevailed in the tenement house districts
for over two months. 1t reached its leight
three weeks ago when 558 cases and deaths
occurred. Week before last there were 497
cases and So deaths. Last week there were
t6S cases and G3 deaths. The fact that
His sickness has been confined within
EEL tain lines contains much comfort II ind-
Gates that no epidemic is greatly to be feared
on Manhattan Island If cholera even should
rage on the East and West Sides the middle
districts would probably not suffer much.
General Grant and his friendships have
formed the subject of many solemn essay,
aud every time the conspicuous moral hung on
at the end thereof has been the folly OF trust
ing anybody too implicitly. 1t is not to he
denied that Grant suffered from the effects
of misplaced confidence. General Adam
Badeau in his article to-day makes that evil
dent once more and gives details touching this
phase of his friends life that are new and n-
teresting But Grant was not always deceived
perhaps in proportion to the number OF his
friends, he was not played upon Oftener than
most other men. And from such companions
as Sherman, Rawlns, Borie and Others chose
names are almost as well known, he obtained
many benefits which added to his happiness,
dignity and renOwn.
The political situation in England at present
IA nearly as obscure as London in its densest
fog bat the outline of it, as described by The
TRIBuNE's skilled observer in his regular cable
letter, will interest all our readers The main
probability ruggested is the return to the
Goye,nmse. of Lord Randolph Churchill, with
a complete surrender to him by Lord Salisbury.
Lord Harrington will have nothing to do with
a coalition Cabinet, and to expect the Tories to
step down and out to please him is absurd. In
q reorganization without Churchill only two
men, w. II. Smith or Sir Michael Hicks Beach,
could be appointed to lead the Commons. MIR.
Smith would certainly not answer at all, nor
would Sir Michael without Churchil's support
accomplish anything What remains to Lord
Salisbury, therefore, except submission to
Churchill. is not apparent.
:Ex-Msyor Grace's Indignation because he
Wss not allowed, before he went out OF office,